What is Empowering Mountain Food Systems?

EmPOWERing Mountain Food Systems (EMFS) is part of the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS), which launched in 2019 to focus on expanded opportunities and capacity for food and farm businesses across the Western NC region. EMFS works with 12 mountain counties from Cleveland to Swain CEFS is collaborating with N.C. Cooperative Extension and Small Business Centers throughout the region.

With a renewed focus on business assistance and supply chain resolutions, EMFS has a couple of new exciting opportunities to get involved and grow your business:

Be a part of the Supply Chain Assessment
Are you a stakeholder in a food hub, commercial kitchen, commissary, farmers market, or meat processor? If so, we’d love to hear from you!
The results from this study will help us to offer educational programs that matter most to you

Attend a workshop
From adding agritourism to succession planning, we’re covering all the business topics you need to know more about. Check out the EMFS Events page to learn more and register

Introducing our new Area Specialized Agent (ASA) Agribusiness: Jennifer Badger. Jennifer is from Brevard, NC, and graduated from NC State University with a Bachelor’s in Agricultural Business Management. Before working with Cooperative Extension, she held positions at The Fresh Market and Food Lion as a buyer for Local Foods. She is excited to return home to WNC and support her neighbors by providing one-on-one business coaching and workshops to increase regional agricultural income.

To schedule a one-on-one business coaching session with Jennifer, complete our Business Services Interest Form.